sententious

[ sen-ten-shuhs ]
See synonyms for sententious on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. abounding in pithy aphorisms or maxims: a sententious book.

  2. given to excessive moralizing; self-righteous.

  1. given to or using pithy sayings or maxims: a sententious poet.

  2. of the nature of a maxim; pithy.

Origin of sententious

1
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin sententiōsus “meaningful, pithy”; see sentence, -ous

Other words for sententious

Other words from sententious

  • sen·ten·tious·ly, adverb
  • sen·ten·tious·ness, sen·ten·ti·os·i·ty [sen-ten-shee-os-i-tee], /sɛnˌtɛn ʃiˈɒs ɪ ti/, noun
  • non·sen·ten·tious, adjective
  • non·sen·ten·tious·ness, noun
  • un·sen·ten·tious, adjective
  • un·sen·ten·tious·ness, noun

Words Nearby sententious

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use sententious in a sentence

  • "No fief can remain in the possession of a woman," was the sententious utterance of the bailiff.

  • “He may delay his defense if he like,” said a sententious young officer to whom I had imparted this natural wish.

  • Another long and deliberate pause succeeded these sententious questions and ready replies.

    The Last of the Mohicans | James Fenimore Cooper
  • As soon as the door had closed behind him, several of the gamesters exchanged sententious nods and glances.

    The Sorrows of Satan | Marie Corelli
  • Thus appealed to, however, he answered his friend in his ordinary sententious manner.

    The Deerslayer | James Fenimore Cooper

British Dictionary definitions for sententious

sententious

/ (sɛnˈtɛnʃəs) /


adjective
  1. characterized by or full of aphorisms, terse pithy sayings, or axioms

  2. constantly using aphorisms, etc

  1. tending to indulge in pompous moralizing

Origin of sententious

1
C15: from Latin sententiōsus full of meaning, from sententia; see sentence

Derived forms of sententious

  • sententiously, adverb
  • sententiousness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012